Wednesday, October 31, 2007

I awoke to a very erie foggy morning. What a perfect Halloween day. I had a plethora of ideas for Halloween costumes: a kangaroo with Camille as my joey, a web and Camille as the spider, a family of whoopie cushions, a monkey and Camille would be my banana. However, Brad found the cutest costume for Camille so we built our outfits around her costume. She is going as a cob of corn and we are going as corn farmers.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

For my 26th birthday/Christmas/you just had a baby present, Brad bought me the treadmill that I've always wanted. After getting the treadmill set up in the basement in front of the big screen (that's the only way to exercise!) we were left with a ginormous box in the garage. Brad hates to throw away big boxes (We still have the box our 5 year old TV came in) and asked me what we should do with it. Thinking about our attempt to organize the garage I suggested just cutting it up and throwing it away. It's too big to pack anything in besides pillows because you'd never be able to lift it. So, Brad grabbed a knife and decided to start the deconstruction process. Well, after the first cut (a big square out of the middle) we both knew we couldn't say good-bye because standing in front of us was no longer a big box but the beginning of a fort. Brad continued to sculpt the fort, a front door with a handle and another window. Then to put the finishing touches on he placed a Steelers mat in front of the door. We knew this would make our garage the place to be.

Well, our vision was correct! This weekend our friends, Steve and Erin, came with their kids, Kurtis and Kylee (two of our favorite little people) and we had a great time in the fort. Kurtis even mowed the "lawn" in front of his "house" and went and got the "mail". Kylee seemed to like it too. Brad and Erin even made visits to the new neighbors. Oh the fun you can have with a little bit of garbage!

Directions:Mix the salt into the beef cubesBrown the onions in oil. Add the beef and paprika. Let the beef simmer in its own juices for about 1 hour.Add the sliced carrots and simmer for 30 minutes. Add the water and diced potatoes and remaining 1 ½ tsp salt, the tomato sauce, and sour cream. Simmer until the potatoes are done; add the black pepper. Add dumplings(Also easy in a crock pot!)

Egg Dumpling dough for the Gulyas

3 eggs3 cup flour1 Tablespoon salt½ cup water

DirectionsMake while the beef is simmeringMix all the ingredients together and beat with a spoon. It will make stiff dough. Place the dough mound on a cutting board and slice small sections of dough off with a knife or spoon. (About the size of a quarter) Cook these dumplings about 15 minutes or so in a pot of boiling water. Drain and rinse with cold water. Serve the cooked dumplings in the cooked gulyas.

My friends must think my life is interesting because in the last week I've had 3 of them tell me I should start a blog. So, since I have so much "extra" time on my hands, I thought I would.I can't even manage to keep the checkbook balanced so I don't know why I think I have time to blog. (It's like an electronic journal so I don't have to feel completely guilty about using my precious time on a blog, Right?) I can't promise anything funny or witty but I'm willing to try...

HOPING TO ADOPT

About Me

Brad and I were married May of 2002. We added Camille to our family in August of 2007, Natalie in April of 2009, Emily in February of 2011, and Elizabeth joined us in May of 2013. I use to teach Social Studies at Rigby Jr. High but I've taken an ongoing leave of absence from the working world to play Mommy. I have a love for all things history and an unquenched appetite for traveling. Currently, we're living in and exploring the Northeast.